Molded expandable nursery tray

ABSTRACT

A molded expandable breakaway nursery tray and corregated shipping container therefor.

U.S. CI ..47/34.l l, 206/56 AB, 220/23.4,

' 47/ 34. l 3 Int. Cl. ..A01g 9/02, B65d 21/02 Field ofSearch..220/2l.2, 23.4, 23.8;

C United States Patent 1151 3,660,934 Pollack et a1. 1451 May 9, 1972 [5MOLDED EXPAN'DABLE NURSERY H I R ere ces Cited TRA UNITED STATES PATENTS[72] inventors: Russell G. Pollack, Phoenix, Aria; Horace 3,009,29111/1961 Blackmore ..47/34.13 E. Comer, deceased, late of Phoenix,215931895 4/1952 47/34 x Ariz., by Paul T. Wubboldlng, executor,3-392869 7/1968 "220/21 phoenixAriz. 3,561,158 2/1971 Marcan 47/3413[73] Assignee: Vaughn's of Arizona, Phoenix, Ark. FOREIGN PATENTS 0RAPPLICATIONS [221 May 11,197" 831,054 6/1961 France ..47/34.13 APPLNQ:36,073 1,437,556 3/1966 France ..47 34.13

Primary Examiner-Robert E. Bagwill A!t0rneyWa'1'ren F B. Lindsiey [57]ABSTRACT A molded expandable breakaway nursery tray and corregatedshipping container therefor.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 91972 3,660,934

sum 1 OF 2 [N VEN 7' 0125' WM f W? A T TORNEY 1 MOLDED EXPANDABLENURSERY TRAY BACKGROUND OF TI-IE INVENTION This invention relates tonursery trays and more particularly to molded breakaway nursery trayswhich may be expandable in number to accommodate various needs of thetrade for growing, shipping and marketing nursery plants.

1. Field of the Invention This invention is particularly directed tobreakaway trays which serve as the growing container in which beddingplants are grown and also as a shipping container for moving the plantsto market. The tray also serves a breakaway structure which may bebroken apart to accommodate the requirements of the wholesale and retailmarket.

2. Description of the Prior Art At the present time nursery trays usedfor growing have not been satisfactory for shipping, receiving anddisplay purposes. Furthermore, the trays have not been of a unitizedconstruction so as to render it possible to package a number of trays ina common shipping carton without damaging the plants or endangeringtheir growth during packaging and shipping.

The prior art also lacks a packaging carton for a plurality of likedesigned trays thereby adding to the costs of nursery plants by addingsubstantial handling and packaging costs whenever the nursery stock waspackaged and sent to the wholesale and retail market. It is believedessential in todays market to grow, package, ship and merchandise thenursery products in the same container at the same time displaying theproducts in appealing, attractive containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention claimed a newand improved plant packaging nursery tray, encasing sleeve and boxpackaging means for more than one sleeve is provided which utilizes animproved structure for the growing, shipping and selling needs of thetrade. The nursery tray disclosed and claimed is of an expandable designwhich serves as a growing container in which bedding plants are grownand later shipped into the wholesale and retail markets. The tray isprovided with breakaway features to accommodate the requirements oflarge and small purchasers.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improvedbreakaway tray for growing, shipping and merchandising nursery stock.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improve breakaway traythat provides an uninterrupted bottom surface for conveyor use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved traythat is rigid for handling purposes but easily broken apart formerchandising needs.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a breakaway trayemploying a plurality of containers wherein each container is arrangedto receive individual plant growing pot like boxes and wherein eachcontainer is reinforced in such a manner as to divide the container intoa plurality of parts for receiving said boxes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedshipping carton for stacking a plurality of breakaway trays containinggrowing plants.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved meansfor attaching abutting containers forming a breakaway nursery tray yetrender the entire tray solid enough for housing nursery stock duringhandling and shipping functions.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterizes this invention will be pointed out with particularly inthe claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention may be morereadily described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a shipping box, tray enclosingsleeve, breakaway tray and individual plant growing pots or boxes andembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the breakaway tray shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the breakaway tray shown in F IG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the breakaway tray shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the breakaway tray shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along the line 6 6; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along the line 7 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to thedrawing by characters of reference, FIG. 1 discloses a shipping carton10 for housing a plurality of trays similar to tray 11 when each tray isinserted in a sleeve 12. Tray 11 comprises a plurality of similarcontainers 13 which are attached together along abutting sides or endsof walls 14 and 15, respectively, of the containers. Each container isprovided to house a plurality of pots or boxes 16 for growing nurserystock.

Tray 11, which has particular utility in the nursery business, isprovided to function as a growing platform or housing and comprises aplurality of like containers 13 which may be made out of suitableplastic material of expandable polystyrene produced as a clear orcolored water-resistant resin. Although it is not intended to limit thisinvention to the use of any particular material the above definedplastic made out of polystyrene has proven successful.

Each of the containers 13 forming tray 11 has a tapered configuration sothat the side and end walls 14 and 15 of each tray taper outwardly froma bottom surface 17 toward an upper surface 18 defined by the edges ofside and end walls 14 and 15. The side and end walls 14 and 15 togetherwith the bottom surface 17 from a tapered cavity 19.

When tray 11 is molded it results in a plurality of containers 13fixedly attached along their abutting side and end walls with eachcontainer defining a cavity tapered outwardly from the containers bottomsurface toward it's open top. All of the containers forming the tray arearranged so that their bottom surfaces lie in a first common plane andthe surfaces formed by the top edges of each of their side and end wallslie in a second common plane. FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6 illustrate thisfeature.

The inside bottom surface of each container 13 is provided with a ridgeor n'b 20 extending longitudinally of the container and, as shown, maybe arranged along the conainer's longitudinal axis. Each rib 20 isprovided with one or more cross arms 21 which divide the inside bottomsurface of the container into a plurality of parts. Each part of thedivided container bottom is provided with a raised protrusion such as aspherical projection 210 which serves as a platform for the base of oneof the pots or boxes 16. This protrusion serves as a means for aircirculation and drainage between the bottom of box 16 and the insidebottom surface of container 13. As shown in FIG. 1 the pots or boxes 16are clustered together in a breakaway tray structure and these boxeswhen so assembled may be firmly held by the surfaces of the inside wallsof cavity 19 of containers 13. The pots or boxes 16 may be made of anysuitable material such as pressed moisture absorbing material such aspressed paper.

The ridges or ribs 20 of containers 13 also have another function inthat they provide an air space between the bottom surface of containers13 and the bottoms of boxes 16 so that any water drainage from boxes 16is provided through apertures 22 formed in the bottom surface 17 of eachcontainer.

In order to reinforce tray 11 formed by the cluster of containers 13into a relatively rigid structure so that it may be easily handledempty, partly filled or full of soil and plants, a plurality of ribsupport members 25 are arranged between adjacent end and side walls ofabutting containers. These rib support members may be of a narrow wedgeshaped configuration with the wide end of the wedge lying in the planeof the outside surface of containers 13 forming tray 11. With thisconfiguration an uninterrupted surface extends between the bottomsurface of each of the containers thereby making it possible to use thetray structure having more than one container l3 on conveyors or likeautomatic handling equipment.

in order to facilitate the breaking of one container from another eachof the rib support members 25 is provided with a hollow cavity 26. Thismay be formed in the molding process of the tray. Cavity 26 helps keepthe tray structure light in weight but is primarily provided to helprender the tray breakable, i.e., make it possible to easily separate onecontainer 13 from another in the tray structure.

In order to further expedite the breakaway features of the tray the topsurface of the abutting end and side walls 14 and 15, respectively, ofthe containers are provided with grooves 27 cut as shown in FIG. 1 toextend more than half way through the abutting top edges of the end andside walls so that this part of the tray structure may be easilyruptured when it is intended to separate one container from another fromthe tray.

One of the problems of modern day merchandising of nursery stock is thepackaging and moving of it to the retail market. Growing plants need airto grow and remain fresh looking; plant stems and flowers must beprotected against breakage; and sufficient space must be provided forstock of different size plant stems; and the trays must be stacked andpackaged more than one in a carton for easy handling and particularly toreduce the cost of handling and packaging.

Therefore, in accordance with the invention, each tray 11 may beslidably inserted into a sleeve 12, shown in FIG. 1, for housing thetray during handling and shipping with the height of the sleeve beingsufficient to allow for plant growth or extension above the top of thetray. Each tray with its sleeve around it is then placed horizontallyinto carton 10. More than one tray and sleeve combination may be stackedin the carton one upon another. Suitable slots 28 are provided in cartonalong its side wall for providing ventilation to each of the sleeves forkeeping fresh the plant stock and aiding its continued growth duringpackaging and shipment.

It should be noted that not only does the disclosed and claimed tray,sleeve and carton packaging structure make it possible for the growingtray to be used during the growing, wholesaling and retailing effortsbut it makes it possible to package the plants ahead of time beforeshipment and still maintain the plants in a fresh growing state.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes .and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A molded nursery tray comprising more than one breakaway container,each of said containers defining a tapered box and similar cavity havingan open top formed by the edges of side and end walls of each containerand a bottom, each of said containers abutting another container alongan edge of at least one of its end or side walls, the top of eachcontainer lying within a first common plane and the outside surface ofthe bottom of each container lying within a second common plane, ribsupport members arranged between the interconnecting abutting sides andend walls of each container, said rib support members extending betweenthe edges of said abutting sides and end walls with one end of each ribsupport member lying within said second common plane to provide acontinuous surface between outside surfaces of the bottom of eachabutting container, said abutting edges of said side and end walls ofeach container being grooved to facilitate breaking away individualcontainers from said tray.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said n'b supportingmembers are hollow to further facilitate the breaking away of onecontainer from another.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the inside surface ofeach of the bottoms of the containers is provided with a ridge along itslongitudinal axis to reinforce the bottom and divide the container intosections.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the inside surface ofeach of the bottoms of the containers is provided with a ridge extendinglongitudinally along the inside surface of the bottom of each containerand having cross arms extending transversely of its longitudinal axisfor dividing each container inside bottom surface into a plurality ofparts.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 in further combination with asleeve for encasing said tray and providing an air space above said trayfor plant extension.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in further combination with abox like means for encasing more than one vertically stacked sleeve.

7. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein protrusions are providedin each section to provide air space between the container and anyinserted box for drainage and air circulation purposes.

1. A molded nursery tray comprising more than one breakaway container,each of said containers defining a tapered box and similar cavity havingan open top formed by the edges of side and end walls of each containerand a bottom, each of said containers abutting another container alongan edge of at least one of its end or side walls, the top of eachcontainer lying wiThin a first common plane and the outside surface ofthe bottom of each container lying within a second common plane, ribsupport members arranged between the interconnecting abutting sides andend walls of each container, said rib support members extending betweenthe edges of said abutting sides and end walls with one end of each ribsupport member lying within said second common plane to provide acontinuous surface between outside surfaces of the bottom of eachabutting container, said abutting edges of said side and end walls ofeach container being grooved to facilitate breaking away individualcontainers from said tray.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1wherein said rib supporting members are hollow to further facilitate thebreaking away of one container from another.
 3. The combination setforth in claim 1 wherein the inside surface of each of the bottoms ofthe containers is provided with a ridge along its longitudinal axis toreinforce the bottom and divide the container into sections.
 4. Thecombination set forth in claim 1 wherein the inside surface of each ofthe bottoms of the containers is provided with a ridge extendinglongitudinally along the inside surface of the bottom of each containerand having cross arms extending transversely of its longitudinal axisfor dividing each container inside bottom surface into a plurality ofparts.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 1 in further combinationwith a sleeve for encasing said tray and providing an air space abovesaid tray for plant extension.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 5in further combination with a box like means for encasing more than onevertically stacked sleeve.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 3wherein protrusions are provided in each section to provide air spacebetween the container and any inserted box for drainage and aircirculation purposes.